A&M's Kingsbury has plenty to prove in SEC

Updated 12:20 am, Thursday, March 29, 2012

University of Houston co-offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury speaks with freshman quarterback David Piland during a game against Central Florida on Nov. 5, 2010, at Robertson Stadium in Houston. Kingsbury, a former New Braunfels and Texas Tech quarterback is the new offensive coordinator at Texas A&M. Nick de la Torre / Houston Chronicle

Photo: Nick De La Torre / Houston Chronicle

University of Houston co-offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury...

New England Patriots quarterback Kliff Kingsbury during rookie minicamp, Friday, May 2, 2003, in Foxboro, Mass. Kingsbury, drafted in the sixth round of this year's NFL draft out of Texas Tech, threw 45 scoring passes last year for Texas Tech, and hopes to stick with New England.

Texas Tech players Kliff Kingsbury, right, and Slade Hodges sign autographs for Westley Brown, 12, left, of Kissimmee, Fla., and his sister, Kristine, 11, during a visit to the Give Kids the World Village in Kissimmee, Sunday, Dec. 22, 2002. Players from Clemson and Texas Tech visited the children as part of the Tangerine Bowl activites.

** FILE ** Texas Tech's Kliff Kingsbury throws in the second quarter against New Mexico at University Stadium in Albuquerque, N.M., in this Sept. 27, 2002 photo. On Saturday night, he leads the No. 24 Red Raiders against fourth-ranked Oklahoma for the Big 12 South Division title.

Photo: JAKE SCHOELLKOPF, AP

** FILE ** Texas Tech's Kliff Kingsbury throws in the second...

** FILE CORRECTS TO BIG 12 PLAYER OF THE YEAR ** Texas Tech quarterback Kliff Kingsbury, front, is chased into the end zone and brought down by Oklahoma defensive end Jimmy Wilkerson, rear, for a safety Nov. 23, 2002 in Norman, Okla. Kingsbury is The Associated Press offensive player of the year in the Big 12.

** FILE ** Texas Tech football coach Mike Leach, left, talks to quarterback Kliff Kingsbury during the game against Mississippi on Sept. 14, 2002, in Lubbock, Texas. Leach is one of only 10 head coaches in Division I-A college football who also serve as their own offensive coordinators.

Photo: ROBIN O'SHAUGNESSY, AP

** FILE ** Texas Tech football coach Mike Leach, left, talks to...

Texas Tech quarterback Kliff Kingsbury, front, reaches out to scoop up a fumble as Colorado defensive end Marques Harris comes in to cover from behind during the first quarter of a Big-12 contest at Folsom Field in Boulder, Colo., on Saturday, Oct. 26, 2002.

Texas Tech quarterback Kliff Kingsbury (16) looks for an open reciever in the second half of Texas Tech's 24-14 win over Southern Methodist, Saturday, Sept 7, 2002, in Dallas.

Photo: TONY GUTIERREZ, AP

Texas Tech quarterback Kliff Kingsbury (16) looks for an open...

Texas Tech quarterback Kliff Kingsbury (16) celebrates while heading to the sidelines during the first half against Mississippi on Saturday, Sept. 14, 2002, in Lubbock, Texas. Texas Tech won 42-28.

Photo: ROBIN M. CORNETT, AP

Texas Tech quarterback Kliff Kingsbury (16) celebrates while...

**FILE** Texas Tech quarterback Kliff Kingsbury throws a pass against Oklahoma State, Saturday, Nov. 10, 2001, in Stillwater, Okla. Kingsbury is coming off a junior year in which he led the league in passing, thanks partly to coach Mike Leach's air-based offense.

SPORTS/DAILY -- Texas Tech quarterback Kliff Kingsbury is sacked by Aggie players Keelan Jackson (#30) and Ron Edwards (#96) during A&M's 33-15 win over the Red Raiders in College Station Saturday afternoon Sept. 30, 2000. It was the first win for the Aggies against the Raiders in fivve years.

Texas Tech quarterback Kliff Kingsbury passes for the North (Kai) team in the first half of the Hula Bowl game Saturday, Feb. 1, 2003, at Wailuku, Hawaii on the island of Maui.

Photo: MATT THAYER, AP

Texas Tech quarterback Kliff Kingsbury passes for the North (Kai)...

Texas Tech quarterback Kliff Kingsbury directs the Texas Tech band after defeating Clemson in the Mazda Tangerine Bowl in Orlando, Fla. Monday Dec. 23, 2002. Kingsbury became the third Division I-A player to top 5,000 yards passing in a season, throwing for 375 and three touchdowns as Texas Tech defeated Clemson 55-15 in the Tangerine Bowl on Monday night.

Photo: PHELAN EBENHACK, AP

Texas Tech quarterback Kliff Kingsbury directs the Texas Tech band...

Quarterback Kliff Kingsbury #12 of the New Orleans Saints avoids a tackle by defensive lineman Walter Curry #72 of the Baltimore Ravens during their preseason game on August 26, 2005 at the Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana. The Ravens defeated the Saints 21-6.
Photo: Chris Graythen, Getty Images

COLLEGE STATION — When New Braunfels product Kliff Kingsbury, a former Texas Tech star quarterback, accepted the Texas A&M offensive coordinator gig, he heard from an old friend who once donned the maroon and white.

“Klint was an engineering major and the smart one in the family,” Kliff said, chuckling. “He'll be hitting me up for tickets.”

Klint already is, and said he's trying to come up with tickets for his Aggie buddies for the LSU game at Kyle Field in October.

“And Kliff is plenty smart,” Klint added. “He just doesn't like people to know it.”

That's what A&M fans are banking on, as the Aggies, who start spring drills Saturday, enter the rugged Southeastern Conference this season. And count Klint among the hundreds of thousands of faithful who'll be keeping an eye on Kliff and his A&M offense.

“We'll see what he comes up with this year,” Klint said.

Kliff, 32, came up with plenty last year at Houston, as the 13-1 Cougars led the nation with 599 yards per game, including 450 passing. When A&M hired Kevin Sumlin from UH, Kingsbury was one of four assistants who also headed up Highway 6 — just in time for the Aggies to exit the Big 12 and enter the SEC, winner of the last six national titles.

Part of what made Kingsbury, who wasn't recruited by A&M, a record-setting quarterback under Mike Leach at Tech was a chip on his shoulder — to prove wrong those who said he wasn't good enough. That chip is still there, based on skepticism about how successful the Aggies, 7-6 last year under Mike Sherman, will be in the SEC.

“I know what people think of A&M going into that conference, and we're all coaching with chips on our shoulders,” said Kingsbury, who also enjoyed a six-year NFL career. “The players are also ready to prove what they can do. If you're a competitor, and you hear over and over that you're going to (fail), you take that personally.

“For now, you just smile, nod, and say, ‘We'll see.'”

So will the Aggies run UH's “Air Raid” offense in the SEC, known best for its swift and powerful defenses?

“Our whole deal has always been to get first downs,” Kingsbury said. “We haven't seen enough of our personnel to know what we're going to be able to do. We'll install it this spring and see which way it goes. The passing numbers at Houston jump out at you, when you throw for 400 or 500 yards.

“But we've always had the philosophy of taking what the defense gives you. Whatever is working is what we're going to do.”

Sumlin and Kingsbury must tab a replacement at quarterback for likely first-round NFL draft selection Ryan Tannehill, and the candidates all are underclassmen: sophomores Jameill Showers and Matt Joeckel and freshmen Johnny Manziel and Matt Davis.

“We wanted all four at Houston,” Kingsbury said. “They chose A&M, and you can't blame them. Each one brings something different to the table, and it's going to be a great battle.”

Two players Kingsbury has no doubt about leading A&M into the SEC are running back Christine Michael and receiver Ryan Swope. Michael is recovering from a torn ACL, and Swope is coming off a record-setting junior season.

“To have two senior skilled players like that coming back will be huge for our offense, especially when you're going to have a young quarterback,” Kingsbury said. “We expect them to really flourish in our system.”

It's a system the new coaching staff finally begins installing on the field Saturday, with the annual Maroon & White game set for April 28 to wrap up spring drills.

“Getting out there with them on the field is the fun part of this job,” Kingsbury said. “We can't wait until Saturday.”